Rooney misses out for England against Spain

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Striker Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of a re-shuffled England side to face Spain in Wednesday's friendly.

England manager Steve McClaren said Rooney, who picked up a
back injury in Manchester United's 4-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur
on Sunday, had not recovered in time and would be replaced by
Peter Crouch.

McClaren will try again with a 4-3-3 formation used in last
November's 1-1 friendly draw in the Netherlands, with Crouch
flanked up front by Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kieron Dyer.

Wright-Phillips gets his chance at Old Trafford after
McClaren said Aaron Lennon had been ruled out by a stomach bug
that had dogged the winger for several days.

Holding player Michael Carrick will anchor a more familiar
three-man field, with Frank Lampard to his left and Steven
Gerrard on the right.

Bigger changes are in store at the back, largely due to
injury absences, with Phil Neville stepping in after England
lost both their left backs, Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge.

Captain John Terry's long-term injury absence means he will
be rested and his place alongside Rio Ferdinand handed to
Jonathan Woodgate, with Gary Neville at right back.

McClaren dropped first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson in
order to give Ben Foster his England debut and a taste of
international football.

'Nobody has got the experience Paul Robinson has got,' said
the coach. 'And we need to give the keepers below (him)
experience. It's a perfect opportunity.'

The game is being used by both sides as preparation for next
month's Euro 2008 qualifiers, though injuries have made it a
selection headache for McClaren.

'We thought Rooney might be okay, but the game's come just a
day too late,' the coach said.

Woodgate's place follows an impressive loan spell from Real
Madrid at Middlesbrough.

'I've always admired Jonathan and ever since he came back to
the Premier League, he's been a revelation. He's kept away from
injuries...and he's absolutely dying to play for England again.'

England's last game against Spain was a 1-0 defeat in Madrid
in 2004 where the visitors were played off the park, though the
friendly was marred by racist chanting by the home fans.

'I was there at the Bernabeu and although we tried to ruffle
their feathers we couldn't get the ball off them that evening,'
said McClaren, who was assistant to former England coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson.

'So we know how they can play, they're one of the best sides
in Europe technically and a good side on their day. We've got to
make it our day.'

As for the racism, he said: 'A lot of water has gone under
the bridge since then and a lot of good has been done. In the
fight against racism there's no bigger supporter than football
itself - and definitely the England team.'